Find bird flu disease control zones and the rules you must follow in each zone.

Applies to England

Guidance for Northern Ireland

Check what zone you are in on the bird flu disease zone map.

If you are not in a zone you should continue following the guidance to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading.

Rules in an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ)

If you are in an AIPZ you must follow strict biosecurity and hygiene rules by law, including:

keep ducks and geese separate from other birds

prevent contact with wild birds and rodents

clean housing, equipment, vehicles and footwear

keep records of bird movements, deaths and eggs

additional rules if you keep more than 500 birds

additional rules for game bird rearers and shoot operators

Follow the rules to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading.

Follow additional rules if you keep game birds.

Check if you must house your birds

In the AIPZ in England there are mandatory housing measures which mean you may have to house your birds.

If you have 50 or more birds you must house them. This applies to all types of birds.

If you keep less than 50 birds and they are for your own use only (for example, you do not sell or give away their eggs or meat), you do not have to house them.

If you keep less than 50 birds but you do sell or give away their eggs, poultry products or live birds, you must house them. These birds are known as ‘poultry’.

Find out how to house your birds safely.

Rules in bird flu disease control zones

By law, you must follow the rules for the disease control zone that you are in.

If bird flu is suspected, 3km and 10km temporary control zones may be put in place around the infected premises.

If bird flu is confirmed, disease control zones are put in place around the premises to stop it spreading.

When a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (the most serious type of bird flu) has been confirmed in poultry or other captive birds, one of the following controls are put in place around the infected premises:

a 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone

a 3km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone

When a case of low pathogenic avian influenza (the less serious type of bird flu) has been confirmed in poultry or other captive birds, a 1km restricted zone may be put in place around the infected premises.

Sometimes larger zones are put in place to reduce the risk of bird flu spreading.

There are specific rules for each disease control zone. You can find these in the declarations on the disease cases and control zones finder.

Disease control zones continue to apply until they are withdrawn or amended by a further declaration. Disease control zones are only lifted when all the disease control and surveillance activities within the zone have been completed.

In all disease control zones, you must:

follow the biosecurity rules to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading

keep a record of anyone that transports or markets poultry or poultry eggs (there are exemptions for table eggs)

follow the rules for marking, sourcing, cutting, transporting and storing fresh meat and meat products

comply with any biosecurity rules imposed by a veterinary inspector

not organise or attend bird gatherings (including bird fairs, markets, shows, sales, exhibitions and some premises used for dealing or internet sales)

follow additional rules if you keep game birds, including not releasing them

3km protection zones and 3km temporary control zones

In 3km protection zones and 3km temporary control zones, you must:

follow the rules for 10km surveillance zones and 10km temporary control zones

keep poultry and other captive birds housed - find out how to house them safely

follow the instructions from your veterinary inspector to dispose of any bird carcasses

not spread poultry litter, manure or slurry, or remove them from your premises

not move poultry or other captive birds onto or off your premises without a licence (there are exceptions for pets)

not move eggs without a licence (you can move table eggs to wholesale or retail premises to be sold directly to consumers)

not move poultry meat inside or outside the zone, unless you follow the rules in the case declaration

Apply for a licence to move eggs or poultry meat.

10km surveillance zones, 10km temporary control zones and 10km restricted zones

If you are in a 10km surveillance zone or a 10km temporary control zone, you must:

keep a record of all poultry or poultry eggs that enter or leave your premises, except table eggs that are being moved direct to wholesale or retail premises to be sold directly to consumers

not move poultry, other captive birds, or mammals (including pigs) to or from premises where poultry or other captive birds are kept without a licence (there are exceptions for pets)

not spread poultry litter, manure or slurry, or remove them from your premises

Apply for a licence to move poultry, other captive birds, or mammals.

Captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone

If you are in a captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone, you must:

keep poultry and other captive birds housed - find out how to house them safely

keep a record of all poultry or poultry eggs that enter or leave your premises, except eggs that are being moved direct to wholesale or retail premises to be sold

What happens if you do not follow the rules

You will put your birds at risk of bird flu and they may die.

Bird flu could spread to other premises and areas.

You may also be fined and spend up to 6 months in prison.

If you think someone is not following the rules you should report them to the Local Authority Animal Health Function in Trading Standards.

Sign up for animal disease alerts

To keep up to date with the latest information you can sign up for animal disease alerts from APHA.

Updates to this page

13 November 2026 Added a new section under the 'Check if you must house your birds' heading.

Added a new section under the 'Check if you must house your birds' heading.

4 June 2026 Updated to reflect that the avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) has been lifted.

Updated to reflect that the avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) has been lifted.

9 April 2026 Being in an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) no longer means you have to keep your birds housed. You can now let your birds outside again unless you’re in a protection zone or captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone. You must continue to follow the mandatory biosecurity measures.

Being in an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) no longer means you have to keep your birds housed. You can now let your birds outside again unless you’re in a protection zone or captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone. You must continue to follow the mandatory biosecurity measures.

6 November 2025 Updated guidance to check if you have to house your birds in the avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) in England.

Updated guidance to check if you have to house your birds in the avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) in England.

28 October 2025 From Thursday 30 October, there will be some areas of the AIPZ in England where you must house your birds. Check what zone you’re in on the bird flu disease zone map and prepare to house your birds safely.

From Thursday 30 October, there will be some areas of the AIPZ in England where you must house your birds. Check what zone you’re in on the bird flu disease zone map and prepare to house your birds safely.

20 August 2025 Added a link to additional rules you must follow if you keep game birds.

Added a link to additional rules you must follow if you keep game birds.

22 May 2025 The mandatory housing measures have been lifted in the AIPZ in England. You can let your birds outside again unless you’re in a protection zone or captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone.

The mandatory housing measures have been lifted in the AIPZ in England. You can let your birds outside again unless you’re in a protection zone or captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone.

31 January 2025 Added information about the rules you must follow in an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ).

Added information about the rules you must follow in an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ).

4 July 2023 Updated to reflect that the avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) has been lifted.

Updated to reflect that the avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) has been lifted.

18 April 2023 Mandatory housing measures in England and Wales have been lifted. Housing measures are still in place in some bird flu control zones.

Mandatory housing measures in England and Wales have been lifted. Housing measures are still in place in some bird flu control zones.

2 December 2022 Updated to reflect housing measures that have come into force in Wales.

Updated to reflect housing measures that have come into force in Wales.

7 November 2022 In England you must now house your birds to protect them from bird flu.

In England you must now house your birds to protect them from bird flu.

4 November 2022 Updated as part of a review of bird flu guidance.

Updated as part of a review of bird flu guidance.

2 November 2022 Updated 'Rules on meat produced from poultry and farmed game birds originating in the Protection Zone'.

Updated 'Rules on meat produced from poultry and farmed game birds originating in the Protection Zone'.

27 October 2022 Updated to add links to a new bird flu cases finder.

Updated to add links to a new bird flu cases finder.

26 October 2022 HPAI H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry on 26 October at a third premises near North Somercotes, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, a ninth premises near Dereham, Breckland, Norfolk, a premises near Stalham, North Norfolk, Norfolk and an eighth premises near Dereham, Breckland, Norfolk. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone have been declared surrounding each of the premises. HPAI H5N1 was confirmed in a small flock of non-commercial poultry at a premises near Much Hoole, South Ribble, Lancashire. A 3km Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone has been declared around the premises.

HPAI H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry on 26 October at a third premises near North Somercotes, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, a ninth premises near Dereham, Breckland, Norfolk, a premises near Stalham, North Norfolk, Norfolk and an eighth premises near Dereham, Breckland, Norfolk. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone have been declared surrounding each of the premises. HPAI H5N1 was confirmed in a small flock of non-commercial poultry at a premises near Much Hoole, South Ribble, Lancashire. A 3km Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone has been declared around the premises.

26 October 2022 Updated 'Rules on meat produced from poultry and farmed game birds originating in the Protection Zone'.

Updated 'Rules on meat produced from poultry and farmed game birds originating in the Protection Zone'.

24 October 2022 Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry on 24 October near Pilling, Wyre, Lancashire and a third premises near Dartington, South Hams, Devon. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone have been declared around each of the premises.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in poultry on 24 October near Pilling, Wyre, Lancashire and a third premises near Dartington, South Hams, Devon. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone have been declared around each of the premises.

23 October 2022 Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a third premises near Feltwell, Norfolk, a sixth and seventh premises near Dereham, Norfolk and a second premises near Taverham, Norfolk. HPAI H5N1 was also confirmed in other captive birds at a premises near Amesbury, Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry at a third premises near Feltwell, Norfolk, a sixth and seventh premises near Dereham, N…